No evidence that consumption of mixed nuts has any effect on LDL-C or Lp(a)

Elevated LDL-C, lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], and inflammation are associated with greater risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular events. Consumption of individual nut types decreases these risk factors but knowledge about the effect of mixed nuts on Lp(a) is limited. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of consuming 42.5 g/day of mixed nuts on LDL-C, Lp(a), and inflammatory markers in individuals with overweight or obesity.

Results

In a 16-week randomized control trial, 29 participants with overweight or obesity (BMI 25–40 kg/m2) consumed either 42.5 g/day of mixed nuts (cashews, almonds, macadamia nuts, Brazil nuts, pecans, pistachios, walnuts, and peanuts) or 69 g/day isocaloric pretzels. Blood samples were collected at baseline, week 8, and week 16 for analysis on total cholesterol (TC), LDL-C, Lp(a), inflammation markers, glucose, insulin, adiponectin and liver function enzymes. No significant differences were seen in TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, Lp(a), or liver function enzymes between the two groups. Participants consuming mixed nuts had significantly lower body fat percentage and diastolic blood pressure, and higher adiponectin (all P ≤ 0.05). C-reactive protein (CRP) and 8-oxo-deoxyguanosis (8-oxodG) showed non-significant decreasing trends and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) had a non-significant increasing trend in the mixed nut group.

Consumption of mixed nuts had no evidence of an effect on LDL-C or Lp(a) throughout the intervention. Notably, mixed nut consumption lowered body fat percentage without significant changes in body weight or BMI. Future studies with larger sample sizes investigating the changing trends of CRP, 8-oxodG, and TAC are warranted.

Reference:

Chelsea L. Nora, Liyue Zhang, Robert J. Castro, Amanda Marx, Hannah B. Carman, Tiffany Lum, Sotirios Tsimikas, Mee Young Hong, Effects of mixed nut consumption on LDL cholesterol, lipoprotein(a), and other cardiometabolic risk factors in overweight and obese adults, Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 2023, ISSN 0939-4753, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2023.05.013.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0939475323001965)